The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-03-05

Vio SAetiAh3 ehoV ACilSAOI 10 d pOWcI WulCu
instantaneously and completely fills the
soul of its subject. The learned and
the unlearned have claimed this. The
good and the bad, the honest and dis
honest, the faithful and the faithless
have asserted it, and this century at its
close is as emphatic as it was at it's be-
ginning, in stating that the convert to
religion is overwhelmingly enveloped
and imbued with the spirit of God. A
case in point may illustrate what am
saying. In an eastern city, the first
week in February, or the last week in
January, it is claimed that over 1000
people were converted to Christ; and
testimony after testimony goes up from
pastor, people and converts, that the
Holy Spirit has done its work in their
souls instantataneously and completely.
And the testimony which we gather
from this example is supported by nearly
every revival throughout the country,
and from many pulpits where no revi-
walls have occurred. And while, of course,
it is urged that each new adherent shall
prove continuous in his religious expe-
rience, yet the point urged for such
continuance, is that he may get crown
of glory by and by. But Jesus puts
that continuance as a necessary condi-
ton of discipleship, and as means of
acquiring that truth, which, when &C
quired, shall make them free; free from
sin, temptation, death. But tits the
fashion of the hour to claim a fulness
of the spirit, sacredness of disciple
ship, and the freedom of truth for all
those who have at the moment espoused
determination to walk so far as they
are able in the footsteps of the Naza-
rene. AS well might the claim be
made that the first streak of dawn is
the full measure of the on-day hour,
or the quiet holy light of the declining
sun.
Let us look now for moment at the
claim in this special instance. Here are
1900 converts who have sat under the
ministrations of very eccentric and
inaccurate preacher. A man who seeks
by every means, apparently proper and
improper, to terrify, and, on the other
hand with no less limit to his method,
to solicit. A man who will have one
moment person literally consumed
with material fire, as an actual occur
renee in contiguous state for bias
pheming God, and again will have ships
sailing for vast periods, and doves flying
for vaster periods, and angels speeding
out into the ether for periods still more
vast, all to find limit to the ocean of
Gods mercy, and each coming back in
its turn to proclaim, there is no limit to
the ocean of the mercy of God. By
warping facts to suit theory, by chang
ing history, and maligning men who
have lived and believed differently from
him, by every device almost under the
sun, this man has brought his motley
throng to the penitent's bench. Now,
the claim is as a result from those min
istrations, 1000 are converted and
filled with the spirit of God. But the
passing years go by, and the first year
hundreds drop out of the ranks; the Sec
ond year scores drop out of the ranks;
the third year others follow; till in five
years time but moiety remain, yet all
were filled with the holy spirit of God,
all were disciples of the Christ! Not
SO. The condition of continuance is
there. Many who did not continue may
have been touched by the Holy Spirit,
but were not filled with it. Many who
continue, may wander long in the dark
some way ere they find the light or
the truth of discipleship which Jesus
spoke of. Take any soul which has
been led by the hand of God, and be-
come gradually full of the gracious
spirit of his love, walked in the ways of
truth and become free, and never will
such an one stoop to the ways of sin.
This is the test. 1t was long ere even
the Apostle Peter could stand it. 1t
takes time before any child of God can
claim to be completely in harmony with
the spirit of truth which maketh con-
tinually free.
How was it, think you, with Paul ?
Grant, if you please, that the light
which shone around him, as he came to
realize the error which engaged him,
and the truth which invited him, was
so great as to stun and blind him, still
was he not wholly imbued with that
spirit of the ages which worketh for
righteousness. He was at times intOl-
Grant and quarrelsome. But as he con-
tinued in the new way; as he came
more and more into harmony with the
life of the Master /; as he became more
and more completely filled with truth
and it's sacredness, he grew into that
wondrous freedom of security and di-
vineness. 1t was not all at once that
he acquired a power to contend with
temptation. Sin would work within
him. But when he served his appren-
ticeship, and fulfilled the condition of
continuance, then it was that he was
able to stand in his colossal might and